It has been a couple of months since I have last written in this blog. It’s just that I somehow change my lifestyle (a little) and that caused me to lessen my time being online. I’m very much occupied with lots of things lately (Photoshoots, Travels, Business, Work, etc). Instead of just resting in my accomodation in Doha during my long days off. Now, I’m usually spending it by going home in Manila or New York (I Love NY!) Even during my vacation leave last Nov-Dec 2010. I divided my 15 days vacation in MNL & NY. Very tiring because of the travel time but it’s worth it! There are lot’s of Sale in U.S during those holiday seasons (Everybody is crazy for shopping mode!) Then last Feb, my mom & sis went to NY luckily I have 5 days off that time so I was able to joined them too! We strolled along Manhattan & Went Ice Tubing/ Skiing for the 1st time in Poconos, Pensylvania. (If time permits, I’ll blog about it!)

Another thing that makes me busy lately is reading books! I don’t know what’s with the year 2011 that made me hooked in books! of course, I do read books from time to time but not as much as this year! To the point of finishing one hard bound book that I just bought in the airport before my 14 hours straight flight! and whenever I’m in the mall by myself, I’ll be most likely be found in the bookstore! I’m now currently reading. “Straight Talk, No Chaser” by Steve Harvey – It’s the follow up version of “Think Like a Man, Act Like a Woman!” by the same author.

As for my layover flights, I still do enjoy going out to explore the city! Which I hope one of these days I’ll have the courage to spend my whole day to upload the pics & blog about it (If time permits!). It’s also a good thing that even though I’m not bidding for asian destination (besides Manila). I always have it. I love asian sector than European sector for the reason of “Pampering”. It’s pretty common that Spa are way cheaper in Asia than anywhere else in the world and yet very satisfying. I spent New Year in Kuala Lumpur, my collegues & I went to salon to tried their hair treatments. After a week, I flew to Singapore to have my Acrylic Nails Done. Then Ventosa & Body Massage in Shanghai China while the most recent is in Saigon, Vietnam where I tried 2 hours hotstone massage. Now you know why I love Asia! All the things that I can’t do in Manila due to lack of time, I can all do it somewhere else in Asia! (How I wish I have time to blog about all these things soon! I’ll be more than willing to share my spa reviews! if time permits!) Ohhhh I’m so addicted on going to spas to pamper myself. It’s my way of distressing after a hard work above the sky! That explains why I have my own Star Bliss Salon & Spa! =)

And lastly, Photo shoots! I loveeeeeet! Modelling & Posing infront of camera is amazingly fun! I love all the pictures! Although it’s consume lots of time during my day off, it’s still worth it! They’re all professional photographers and for that, I’ll be featuring the photos in this blog soon! Promise I’ll find time despite of my busy sched! haha! but anyway, here’s some of it!

* Photo of myself with the view of Manhattan Sky Scrapers while inside a ferry tour

Manhattan is a picture-perfect city, with modern movie sceneries (yes, NYC is possibly the most filmed city ever). Who can ever forget classic movies such as Maid in Manhattan & Serendipity both filmed in Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Maid of Honor & Autumn in New York’s Bethesdan Fountain in Central Park, SATC-Day After Tomorrow-Spider Man’s New York Library, Kingkong’s Empire Estate… among others…You can visit most of these must-see tourist sites for free.

Once you’ve taken the bus tour, it’s time to try the two other popular modes of transportation – the subway and taxis. The MTA New York City Subway is certainly the fastest and cheapest way to go around New York City. One trip costs $3 Get the Fun Pass for unlimited rides for the day for only $8 Of course, a trip to the Big Apple wouldn’t be complete without taking one of the city’s 10,000 yellow cabs.

The other must-eat in New York is steak. There are plenty of high-end steak houses in NYC like TGI-Fridays, Hard Rock and Bubba Gump but if you just want really cheap but really good snack while walking, try Sabrett Hotdogs! It’s all over Manhattan and all kinds of people are buying those! Tourist or not, Ladies in all races, Gents on a necktie or Tshirt, young or old, named it. I even have the guts to encouraged the crew with me on a layover to try it too! And Guess What!? Sabrett is now available in Philippines!

New York is also the mecca for shoppers. For high-end and fashion-forward shops, simply walk the entire length of Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Soho. Visit “destination” stores just because their famous or are attractions by themselves such as huge department stores including Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, World’s Largest Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue.For Youngsters, go to Nintendo World or M&M’s World to see the Word’s biggest Wall of Chocolates!

* You may Shop with your Trolley bag if you’re tired of carrying loads of baggage or shop with your Freezing gear outfit, there’s no excuse not to go for shopping in New York! None!

…and last but not the least, if you’re too tired with the buzzing city why not try to hibernate in the Greeneries of Central Park, bring your iPod, favorite book or pair of sneakers and Viola time will just pass without you noticing it, did that already and it’s truly relaxing! I blogged aboutCentral Park Before: Read it at: https://starvillanueva.com/2009/06/28/central-park-new-york-usa/

Central Park is one of those places that make New York such a great placetolive. The huge parkis located in the center of Manhattan. Its design is an example for city parks around the world.

Literally dozens of well known movie and TV scenes have been shot here including: Ransom, One Fine Day, Bullets over Broadway, Home Alone II, Serendipity, Made of Honor, Angels in America, Cruel Intention, 27 Dresses, Superman Returns, I am Legend, Autumn in New York, The Happenings, You’ve Got Mail, Maid in Manhattan, Sex and the City, Gossip Girl and more. For more info go to IMDB Central Park Filming Location.

Bow Bridge completed in 1862, is one of the most photographed and filmed locations in Central Park and it deserves every bit of its star reputation. The bridge also provides the perfect view from to watch the slowly moving row boats as they glide across the lake, or to photograph the skyline over Fifth Ave. as it rises from the leafy skirt of trees that edge it. It is one of the most popular, and best known, spots to meet and has hosted numberless romantic moments, both on and off the big screen.

The Mall The 40foot wide Mall, flanked by its majestic rows of American Elms, provides the perfect place for a leisurely stroll in any season. One can easily imagine the scene a century ago, women with parasols and men in top hats perambulating towards the Concert Ground that stood adjacent to its northern end. Now you are more likely to find skateboards than waistcoats, but the effect is still the same and even the visitors on wheels are apt to slow down just a bit and admire the cathedral-like ambience.

The Loeb Boathouse, one of the most famous icons of Central Park is located at the northeastern tip of the Lake and houses the Boathouse Restaurant. It is a romantic setting for dinner on a mid-summer 19s evening, watching the sun sink behind the trees and maybe catching a venetian gondola.

Bethesda Fountain rises high above Bethesda Terrace looking over the hundreds of visitors that come every day to enjoy the view of the Lake and relax at the “heart” of the Central Park. Besides being a favorite destination of park visitors in search of a cool place to spend a summer afternoon. Bethesda Fountain is also a celebrity in its own right. It has probably appeared in more movies than any other monument in the park, exuding a timeless romantic charm that makes it a perfect backdrop for cinematographers.

North Meadow Recreation Center is, at 23 acres, one of Central Park’s largest open areas. Ball fields first appeared there in the 1870s and it has been extensively refitted with carefully managed baseball diamonds which are in use throughout the spring and summer. Located just to the north of the reservoir the gently rolling landscape around it creates a slightly more secluded ambience. It also houses a state of the art fitness center, which includes basketball courts, handball courts and two climbing walls.

Strawberry Fields, On December 8th, 1980 John Lennon was shot dead at 72nd St. and Central Park West. Mr. Lennon had taken many walks with his wife and young son through the friendly confines of Central Park. On March 26, 1981 His widow, the artist and performer, later donated $1 million to the Central Park Conservancy to re-landscape and to maintain the 2.5-acre tear-drop-shaped parcel of park landscape. Strawberry Fields opened on October 9, 1985. Every October 9th since then has seen an all day vigil of people of all ages from around the world; fans of his music and believers in his vision.

Aug 14-16′ 2008 – I just came back from Washington (as usual) but this time we used Airbus 340 to Washington & Boeing 777 going back to Doha… I missed Airbus! The last time I flew with this aircraft is 7 months ago (Hongkong Flight) A340’s capacity is 266, While B777 is 305! And it’s equipped with “AIP” an indication panel where you can see the passengers’ seat number who pressed the call bell, so no need to look around like a hunter where the call bell is is! Hehe! And there’s jumpseat in mid galley! Unlike in B777 there’s no seat at all except for drawers!? But in B777 the bunk beds are more spacious!

Unbelievably, I was able to managed being in-charged of the mid-galley with lots of special meals, nakapag load ako ng 4carts on time eh nasa cabin din ako at the same time because of Bar Service! I can’t blame anyone why nobody helped me load the carts co’z anyone has their own task din & the one’s I’m flying with as in 4-5 times ko na nakasama mga flying buddies ko na. Nice naman sila.Anyway yun nga back to the story. Nagulat sila How I’m able to finish loading the carts so Quick! Eh nasa cabin din ako…hehe! About the passengers naman same old stories, kakatapos lang nila kumain ask na agad what time next service or hingi na agad ng anytime snacks… Haaaay No comment na!

We arrived the hotel in Hyatt Reston Virginia around 5:30pm (it seems like the rain has just finished) then went straight to Target Supermarket, I invited Ji Hyun (Korean) if she wants to buy some groceries. I told her 18-20mins away lang! medyo rocky & puro grass yung lalakaran and both of us were wearinghigh-heeled shoes! It turns out to be 45mins walk! Sabi nya sakin, “Star, you told me it’s less than 20 mins walk!” sabi ko nalang “this is a good form of exercise!”She keeps on complaining about how far it is kasi pagod nga sa flight. Kaya nagpapatawa nalang ako the whole time para hindi ako antukin!

Napapasigaw ako sa may parking area kasi umulubog sa grass yung heels namin, Sabi ko nga kay Ji Hyun “Hey let’s go back!!!” then she still continue to walk, sabi nya she was on half way of getting out of the grass mas longer pa pabalik

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We finished shopping around 9:30pm ate dinner then walk far again but that time its dark already, iba naman yung way namin, we crossed some bridge then followed a long fence but we end up climbing a hill with our high heeled shoes & groceries!Sabi ko nga “Wow this is unforgettable we should take a picture” sabi nya “Star! I will kill yousabi ko, “I’m just kidding!” hahahaha! Kasi naman hirap na umakyat ng hill picture pa nasa isip! Pero in-fairness funny din sya kasama naging close na kami coz we always flytogether on a 14hrs flight! =)

We supposed to go to Tysons Mall together but when I called her she was still sleeping so as usual I just went to mall by myself again… didn’t have much time to sleep in our entire 27hrs stay but during our crew rest for 3hrs during the flight I was completely deep sleep! I can’t believe I have Washington flight againAfter 2days…